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Giacomo Leopardi: Desperation at Its Grandest
The majestic, but yet despairing poet Giacomo Leopardi once wrote, "Illusions, however weakened and unmasked by reason, still remain and form the chief part of our life." This one vibrant statement is by far the ultimate main and viable driving force of his classic and timeless poetry. Illusion, which encompasses every part of human existence is not only one of the subtexts of Leopardi's life, but is also the mere context of his thought process and hopeless look on life as he knew it in 19th century Italy.
Leopardi excelled at using several varieties of styles when creating his poetry including ancient Greek, satire, and contemporary. (Vivante 1) He tended to write his poetry in the Romantic traditional style of the day often with subtle tones of pessimism but yet clarity of vision.
One of Leopardi's first poems, a thought-provoking and somewhat visionary work was Appressamento della morte (Approach of Death). The themes of this poem: despair, subjectivity and illusion, not only express the loneliness and dejection of his unhappy childhood which was plagued by illness and physical as well as spiritual frustration, but also transcends an anticipation of death, a reward per say, of a new and more profound life after one's passing.
Readers can experience Leopardi's themes...
(Goodwin) One of his most famous quotes "Conserve energy -- make love more slowly" (Bini) indicates that Leopardi was a man with a mind for romanticism but lacked the luster a key component: physical intimacy. It has been noted throughout the history of Leopardi's life that he was never loved by any women and most likely did not have any intimate relations as well. (Origo) This in and of itself contributed to the longing for romanticism and the consistent themes of adoration. This would also tarnish his heart and directly envelope his entire life.
We know this to be true in his poem To Italy. In this poem, Leopardi expresses his undying love for Italy. He also expresses great love, adornment and a constant theme of illusion in Ode on the Likeness of a Beautiful Woman Carven on Her Tomb:
That breast, which visibly
Blanched with beauty him who looked on…
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Vivante, Arturo, Giacomo Leopardi: Poems Translated
New York: Delphinium Press, 1988
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